--- title: The 8 Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now description: From "The Glory" to "Mr. Queen" and "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" to "SKY Castle," these are the best K-dramas to stream on Netflix. canonical: https://time.com/6309805/best-korean-dramas-netflix-2023/ author: Chad de Guzman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2023-08-31T12:00:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:50:58.066Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: The 8 Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now og:description: From "The Glory" to "Mr. Queen" and "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" to "SKY Castle" og:url: https://time.com/6309805/best-korean-dramas-netflix-2023/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt46b57755baa88cdd/698a3fd9011682aeb79835e4/k-dramas-tv-netflix.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: k-dramas-tv-netflix og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The 8 Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now twitter:description: From "The Glory" to "Mr. Queen" and "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" to "SKY Castle" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt46b57755baa88cdd/698a3fd9011682aeb79835e4/k-dramas-tv-netflix.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The 8 Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: U.S., Japan, and South Korea Open Trilateral Summit on Mutual Security Commitments [Watch (HLS stream): U.S., Japan, and South Korea Open Trilateral Summit on Mutual Security Commitments](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/WlKbJiZB.m3u8) (2:31)  _Published 2023-08-18. President Joe Biden opened a historic summit with Japan and South Korea at Camp David on Friday focused on strengthening security and economic ties at a time of increasing concerns about North Korea’s persistent nuclear threats and China’s provocations in the Pacific._  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter Aug 31, 2023 12:00 PM UTC  Netflix (3); Getty Images  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter Aug 31, 2023 12:00 PM UTC When TIME first curated its list of the [10 best Korean dramas available on Netflix](https://time.com/5835519/best-korean-dramas-netflix/) in 2020, _Squid Game_ had yet to be released. Since then, the show has become the most watched non-English show of all time. The broader landscape of Korean offerings on the streaming platform has also transformed massively, thanks to Netflix’s [continuing billion-dollar investment in South Korea](https://about.netflix.com/ko/news/netflixkoreainvestment). Now Netflix is packed with South Korean shows that testify to the creative prowess of the country’s writers, directors, and actors. From budding romances to sci-fi thrillers, and gritty noir action to heart-rending slice-of-life anthologies, the platform has become an extensive repository of world-class Korean entertainment, proving that the “one-inch barrier of subtitles” [Bong Joon-ho once spoke of](https://time.com/5781750/south-korea-reacts-parasites-historic-oscars-win/) is no longer a hurdle for the persisting Hallyu wave. Below, TIME recommends another eight Korean drama series, from audience favorites of the last decade to recently-concluded releases. For the purposes of this list, shows currently unavailable on Netflix USA are not included. ### More From TIME ## **_Hometown Cha-cha-cha_** **(2021)** “Best” doesn’t always have to mean “intense and thought-provoking.” Sometimes it can simply mean easy, enjoyable viewing, and that’s the case for _Hometown Cha-cha-cha_. This 16-episode romantic comedy adaptation of a [2004 film](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/mr-handy/umc.cmc.6zl2khph0knqjuhzx3rjapyn2) pairs a pragmatic dentist (played by Shin Min-a) with a handsome jack-of-all-trades handyman (played by _Start-Up’_s Kim Seon-ho) in an idyllic seaside village. Don’t dismiss the series for its tropey, opposites-attract plot—many have praised those comforting properties as “[healing,](https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/television/2021/8/26/hometown-cha-cha-cha-interview.html)” especially when it premiered mid-pandemic. All of that helped it to rank in [Netflix’s Top 10 non-English language dramas](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/10/04/entertainment/television/Hometown-ChaChaCha-tvN-Netflix/20211004163545485.html) upon its release, at the height of _Squid Game’_s popularity. ## **_The Glory_** **(2022-2023)** Bullying is often a plot point in K-dramas, but in _The Glory_, the pervasive social issue and its rippling effects through time is the centerpiece. The eight-episode show revolves around Moon Dong-eun (played by _Descendants of the Sun’_s Song Hye-kyo) and her hyperfocused orchestrations to get back at her abusers from 20 years ago. The series is not for the faint of heart—its writer even borrows disturbing details of abuse from real-life incidents—and yet _The Glory_ made the Netflix Top 10 in 89 countries and became one of the most watched non-English shows on the platform this year. **Read More:** [_How Netflix’s_ The Glory _Drew Inspiration From Real Stories of School Violence in Korea_](https://time.com/6261820/the-glory-netflix-true-story/) ## **_Squid Game_** **(2021-2023)** This list would not be complete without this 2021 survival drama that broke records left and right. A congregation of indigents are invited to compete for 45 billion Korean won (USD 38 million)—by playing fatal versions of South Korean children’s games. But apart from the gruesome violence, _Squid Game_ engages viewers with the potent theme of economic despair and desperation as entertainment for the rich. Not only does it have over 1.65 billion hours of viewership on the platform, it also amassed accolades both locally and in Hollywood, including a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor O Yeong-su and an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Lee Jung-jae. A second season is scheduled for release in 2024. ## **_Mr. Queen_** **(2020)** One approach that Korean drama has excelled in is genre-bending, and the entertainment value of _Mr. Queen_ is a testament to this. Aside from brushing upon gender issues, the 20-episode series is a period drama, body-swap fantasy, and comedy rolled into one. It follows a modern-day chef who is transported back in time to the Joseon era and has possessed the body of a queen. _Mr. Queen_ is a heartwarming romp through Korean history, with excellent performances from its actors including lead Shin Hye-sun. The show initially received backlash from audiences for supposedly making light of history, but it still became [one of the highest-rating Korean dramas nationwide](https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2021021508568256620). ## **_Extraordinary Attorney Woo_** **(2022)** This episodic legal drama starring Park Eun-bin has been applauded for its neurodivergent representation. Park plays the eponymous Woo Young-woo, who is diagnosed with savant syndrome and finds herself working for a large law firm. The show at times hinges upon unrealistic depictions of high-functioning individuals in the autism spectrum, and glosses over ableism and discrimination in the workplace. But what sets apart _Extraordinary Attorney Woo_ from similar shows is its portrayal of [inclusive spaces for people with disabilities](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/07/19/entertainment/television/woo-young-woo-Extraordinary-Attorney-Woo-park-eunbin/20220719151012781.html). ## **_SKY Castle_** **(2018)** _SKY Castle_ is a satire of cutthroat parenting in many parts of Asia and the intense environments surrounding private education. Four wealthy families living in a prestigious neighborhood in Seoul are vying to get their teenage children into the best universities. Initially only supposed to be 16 episodes, the show was extended by another four episodes due to popular demand. The show became a hit in China, for its similarities to the grueling _gaokao_ (college entrance exam) that burdens many of its students and their respective families. **Read More:** [_China’s Aging Population Is a Major Concern. But Its Youth May Be an Even Bigger Problem_](https://time.com/6284994/china-youth-unemployment-aging-demographics/) ## **_Our Blues_** **(2022)** An ensemble of South Korea’s A-list actors star in this melancholic drama anthology about people in popular tourist haunt Jeju Island. Featuring riveting performances from Hollywood actor Lee Byung-hun (_Mr. Sunshine_ and _Squid Game_) Lee Jung-eun (_Parasite_), among many others, the highly-viewed show weaves together initially disparate stories within their community to paint a relatable holistic picture of grief, pain, and growth. ## **_D.P._** **(2021-2023)** When _D.P._ was released, it became a controversial hit drama that prompted South Korea’s defense officials to defend the country’s mandatory military conscription system. The story follows conscripts Ahn Jun-ho (Jung Hae-in) and Han Ho-yeol (Koo Kyo-hwan), who are assigned to the Deserter Pursuit Unit (D.P.), responsible for tracking down and apprehending deserters from the Korean military. The show received praise for its depiction of abuse and power-tripping within South Korea’s armed forces. 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